Counterculture Island: Then and Now
Kanta Lipsky, Tommy Major and Carmel Gamble at No Nukes Festival, 1979.
Kanta Lipsky, Tommy Major and Carmel Gamble at No Nukes Festival, 1979.
Anna Edey at Artworker's Guild Renaissance Fair, 1973.
Anna Edey at Artworker's Guild Renaissance Fair, 1973.
Mrs. Edey in her home in West Tisbury.
Mrs. Edey in her home in West Tisbury.
Carly Simon at Black Dog, 1973.
Carly Simon at Black Dog, 1973.
Carol Dodd Brush at Martha's Cheeses opening, 1974.
Carol Dodd Brush at Martha's Cheeses opening, 1974.
George Brush in his painting days.
George Brush in his painting days.
George and Carol Brush today.
George and Carol Brush today.
Ronni Simon at Art Workers Guild, a 1970s haven for craftsmen.
Ronni Simon at Art Workers Guild, a 1970s haven for craftsmen.
Nat Benjamin as a young worker at Martha's Vineyard Shipyard.
Nat Benjamin as a young worker at Martha's Vineyard Shipyard.
Pam and Nat Benjamin on their porch in Vineyard Haven.
Pam and Nat Benjamin on their porch in Vineyard Haven.
John Abrams, early proponent of solar.
John Abrams, early proponent of solar.
John Abrams in his South Mountain Company office in West Tisbury.
John Abrams in his South Mountain Company office in West Tisbury.
Scott McDowell with his truck Reuben and his dog Guinness. Mr. McDowell's mother is in the cab.
Scott McDowell with his truck Reuben and his dog Guinness. Mr. McDowell's mother is in the cab.
Scott McDowell owns Copperworks in Menemsha and is a charter fisherman.
Scott McDowell owns Copperworks in Menemsha and is a charter fisherman.
Since 1970, the year-round population of Martha’s Vineyard has more than doubled, far outpacing the rate of growth in Massachusetts and that of the United States. According to census figures, the Vineyard population increased by 271 people between 1960 and 1970. Between 1970 and 1980, it increased by 2,845.
Growth has continued since then, but the influx of people was never as great as the wave that crested here in the 1970s. The baby boomer generation was on the move, and the nature of the Vineyard was changing.
People came to the Vineyard, and stayed on the Vineyard because they could do what they loved.
Here, a look back at many of the faces of the first wave of counterculture change on the Vineyard, and how those same faces have changed throughout the years.